316 



IMPLEMENTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



hundred yards of twisted line, composed of hair and silk inter- 

 mingled^ and tapering gradually from the reel-end to the point, 

 where it should be neatly looped to a bottom of the best and 

 stoutest Spanish silk-worm gut, as thick, if possible, as the -^ 

 of an inch, to which the hook-links of the flies should be fastened 

 by a knot of the following part. The hook-links for Salmon 

 fishing should be of trebly-twisted gut ; of the flies we will 

 speak anon. 



It is very desirable that the gut should be dyed, in order to 

 deaden its silvery glitter, which is too conspicuous in the water, 

 and ofter scares the fish. The best preparation for this purpose 

 is dark green tea, which brings it nearly to the colour of water 

 when slightly discoloured by rain, at which time the fish are 

 most apt to bite freely. 



Too much attention cannot be paid by the angler to the 

 quality and condition of his gut-lengths, or to the proper 

 adjustment of the knots and loops by which it is fastened. 

 These can scarcely, indeed, be too narrowly or jealously scruti- 

 nised, as gut is a material which is easily frayed and cut by its 

 own friction, and the slightest imperfection will often cause the 

 loss of a very heavy fish. 



